Knitting machine and method



March 17, 1942. 'W L, SMlTH, JR 2,276,705

KNITTING MACINE AND METHOD March 17, 1942. w. l.. SMITH, JR

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 8 Sher-JJLs-Sheetl 2 Filed March 9, 1958 March 17, 1942. w. L. SMITH, JR

4KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 9, 1958 8 Sheets-Sheetv 3 March 17, 1942. W. l.. SMITH, JR 2,276,705

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 9, 1958 8 Shees-Shee'tI 4 arch 17, 1942.

W. L.. SMITH, .IRk

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD 8 sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 9, 1938 27 .ZM/M7.'

March 17, 1942. W sMlTH, JR 2,276,705

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD ruled March, 19:58 8 sheets-sheet e March 17, 1942. w. l.. SMITH, JR 2,276,705

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed March 9, `1938 f 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 It: i

JWM/wf; Mzzl/IMWM@ ffy Flam

March 17, 1942. w. 1 SMITH, JR I I 2,276,705

KNITTING MACHINE AND METHOD\ Filed March 9, 195e s sheets-sheet 8 leo Patented Mar. 1 7, 194@ OFFICE KNITTING MAC ANDMETHOD william n smith, Jr., Pawtucket, a. r., signor i 'to Hemphill Company, Central Falls, R. I., a

corporation of Massachusetts Application March 9, 1938, Serial No. 194,999

vcci. ca -esi 27 Claims. This invention concerns a machine and meth-v between the yarn which knits the pile and the` main orfbacking yarn. Another object of the invention is that of knitting pile loops of various lengths and selectively controlling sinkers for making the pile in any piece of fabric of two different lengths, this adjustment and selection.

accompanying the aforementioned functions whereby the machine is selectively controlled to knit plain fabric and other types of ornamentation as controlled by selectionof the needles. Another object of the invention is .that of providing sinker selecting mechanism very simple i in its construction but effective to vcontrol a great ,variety of patterns, and furthermore, capable of being changed in a few minutes so that entirely different pattern effects may be knitted at any or all of the feeds. All this is accomplished without replacing any of the sinkers or other instrumentalities, or without replacing the pattern determining means themselves.

In the figures of drawings:

' Fig. 1 is a section taken through a part of the needle cylinder adjacent one yarn feeding station and showing the various cams and selecting -devices thereat;

Fig. 2 is a plan showing a fragment of the machine and illustrating certain of the sinker controlling cams and selecting devices which are subject matter of this invention;

Fig. 2a is a detail of adjusting means for the sinker casting-off cam;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing to an enlarged scale the sinker selecting and controlling mechanism at one feeding station;

Fig. 4 is an elevation showing some of the needles and sinkers, yarn feeding means and the feeding yarns as they are engaged by the needles and sinkers and are drawn into knitted loops; e

Fig` 5 is a vlplan view showing the yarn feeding means illustrated in Fig. 4;

' Fig. 6 isa detail of one of the sinker controlling cams necessary to the present system; Fig, '7 is a detail of one form of sinker;

Fig. 8 is a detail of a sinker selecting Jack; A Fig. 9 is a plan showing inldetail sinker controlling cams and different positions of the same for etiecting the knitting of pile loops ot dierent eng l Y Fig. 1o is a. section taken at A-B, oir-1g. 9, wherein the sinker and sinker jack are shown in a selected position;

Fig. lil is a section taken at A-B. Fig. 9, but wherein the sinker and jack have not been se- Ilected;

parts being 'shown in non-selected position' but wherein the sinker is drawing a long'plle loop due to position of one of the sinker controlling cams;

Fig. 13 is a section taken at G-.D and corresponding to llig. l2 except .that the sinker is being dlerently controlled by one of the sinker engaging cams to draw a short pile loop.

Fig. li is a section taken at E-F, Fig..A 9, wherein the various parts are shcwn'in castingod position:

Fig. l5 is a similar View" to Fig, 9, but showing still dierent'- positions oi the movable sinker engagingcams and mechanism for determining and retaining them in those positions;

Fig. 16 is a plan showing sinker cams such as are illustrated in Figs. 9 and 15 but wherein the sinker controlling cams are shown in different positions;

Fig. 1'?v is a section taken at the line G-H, Fig. l5, and wherein the sinker and sinker jack are shown in selected position, the sinker drawlng a short pile loop as determined by the selectlng meansand position of one of the movable sinker controlling cams;

Fig. 18 is a section taken at G-H, Fig. 15,

where the sinker is not selected, but is drawing f a long .pile loop as controlled by one of the sinker cams;

Fig. i9 is a section takenl on the line I-J,

Fig. 16, the sinker being selected and drawing a Y long pile loop under control of the opposite-movable cam from that shown as active in Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a section similar to Fig. 19 taken on line K-L. but showing the results of selection r and a movable cam position for determining the drawing of a short pile loop;

Fig. 2l is an elevation showing a detail o'f the movable sinker controlling cam actuating means, gire 1same mechanism Ybeing shown in plan at Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic view showing relative positions of needle andsinke'r cams, selecting plungers, and the pathways of needle butts, jack butts and of sinkers;

Fig. 23 is a view showing one form of fabric having some plain loops and long pile loops, this 'sect1on of fabric being shown greatly enlarged:

Fig. k24 is a similar view showing a section of fabric having both long and short pile loops;

Fig. 25 is a sectional view taken through Fig.

' a fabric.

2 24 and illustratingboth long and short pile loops:

Figs. 26 and 27 are diagrammatic views showing how atypical pattern may be arrangedupon The invention 'isl shown and. will be described relativeto a multi-feed knitting machine of the -type wherein needles and sinkers cooperate in the measuring and -drawing of stitches. The sinkers are moved by jacks or other means, in a direction opposite to that -in which the .needles move to draw stitches, and are also controlledto.

move radially for the usual ypurpose of casting off. In the drawing of loops such as pile loops,

' it has been known to draw these loops over the erable improvement over anything heretofore known .and comprises a selection of many more steps than have been possible previously. Along with this selection to make pile loops at selected areas within the fabric is a special control for determining different lengths of pile -loops throughout these areas; the selection of the sinker, as controlled by one' selecting means to be described, is combined with a separate cam control, the lcumulative effect of both these devices eventually determining the result in the knitted fabric.

'The machine, as disclosed in Patent No. 2,067,877 has a pattern control for needles which makes it possible to knit widely varying patterns of tuck stitches along with the patterns comprising pile loops. The combination of different forms of tuck and different lengths of loops makes it possible to produce very pleasing and varied effects in the knitted cloth. Another possibility is the knitting of open work between areas omamented by pile loops, this open work takes many var'led forms according to the control at the several feeds about the machine, the length of loops drawn, either below or over the nib and the different ltypes of tuck work such as accumulated loops or float work.

Now'referring to the figures of drawings, one form of the invention will be` described relative to the (machine illustrated, and several examples of the setting of the pattern means and different possibilities thereof will be given. It is to be understood that the invention is applicable to other machines than theone especially illustrated herein and that no attempt will be made herein to enumerate all the different pattern possibilities, different cam settings, or all the possibilities of fabric which may result. Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the knitting machine is of a multifeed type, has a rotary needle cylinder, latch needles and radially movable sinkers, the latter being movable in a direction to cooperate in the drawing of stitches all as described more fully in patents numbered 2,104,231 and 2,090,500. 'I'he invention is also applicable to other types of machines suchfas stationary .needle cylinder machines, and to those having spring heard or sliding latch needles. The cylinder is shown at I, a latch needle `at 2 which slides within the usual tricks or slots determined by strips 3 inserted to form the needle walls of said cylinder. The cylinder is attached to a bearing element 4 in `turn engageable and rotatable within the circular base 5. AA ring gear 6 is fixed to said cylinder and bearing element and performs the usual function'of driving the cylinder from some source of power not necessary ofbeing shown in this case. 'At the upper Aend of the cylinder a` ends of the needle land sinker guiding strips, all this being disclosed in co-pending application 4on the spindle I 6 which is in turn subject to a -and a worm (not shown).

shown in detail and described in co-pending ap- Serial No. 124,844. At each of the separate feeding stations is supported a post or bracket I0 attached to the circular base 5 by means of suitable bolts passing down through a plate I I. This post carries needle cams I2, I3 and Il. The cams I2 and I3 are mounted on a cross-head I5 which is vertically adjustable by means of an eccentric micrometric adjustment by the worm wheel I1 'I'hese elements are plication Serial No. 34,579. The cam I4 may be moved inwardly to engage the needle butts or may be retained in the position shown in Fig. l, this depending upon whether the needles are to be controlled for knitting tuck or float stitches. 'Ihe construction and operation of this cam is also described in detail in the application last above mentioned.

Each of the needles has a selecting jack I8 functioning beneath it and controlled by any suitable selecting means engageable with the removable pattern butts I9. Preferably the selecting device will take the form ofmanually set plungers such as illustrated in Patent No.

2,067,377.- Each jack has a master butt 20 and a top butt 2|. The master` butt 20 will engage and ride up a cam 22, Fig. 22, in the event the jack is selected by any one of a series of plungers 23. same ligure. The cam 24 is a raise and leveling `cam and determines' the proper height of the jack so that the butts I9 may approach the plungers 23`at the correct elevation. A cam 25 on a bracket 26 engages the butt 2| and returns each selected jack to its lowermost position prior to its passing through the next selecting and knitting station at which it may or may not be selected. Of course, each of these sets of cams and plungers is duplicated at the separate feed-l ing stations, and plunge'rs may be manually set to impart the proper pattern movements to the jacks and incidentally to their needles.

The sinker cam assemblies are supported at .the upper ends of the brackets or posts I0 which have just been described. The sinkers indicated at 26 are retained Within suitable slots in a slnker ring 21 which is clamped by clamping elements 28 and 29 and the screws 30, Figs. l and 3. The sinkers are free to move radially, their inner ends /being guided within slots formed by the i strips 3. The upper ends of these strips are offset so that the sinker slots provided thereby are equally spaced between the needle slots. Each of the sinkers has a lowermost projection 3I which slides between the nibs on a sinker actuating jack 32. 1Each of these jacks has a butt 33 at its lowermost end which is controlled by cams 3.4, 35.and plate 36 which are also attached at the upper ends of post I0. The contour of these cams and plate is clearly shown in Fig. 22 wherein the pathway' of the butts 33 is indicated by a dot-and-dash line at 31.

Each of these sinkers 26' has a nib 38 which is inclined upwardly, a throat 39 and a notch III, these determining different positions at which loops may be drawn. For example, ordinary loops may be drawn below the nib as in Fig. 3,

this being the usual practice and the nib merely functioning to cast oi or shed the old loop. As will be more fully described later, one loop may be drawn in the throat and the other over the nii` 38 in which case that loop drawn over the nib will be considerably longer than the one drawn in the throat. Such a loop drawn over the top of the nib will be referred to herein as a long pile loop. As the sinker is pushedin still farther, one loop may be drawn in the throat and the other in the notch 40. The loop drawn in the notch will be slightly longer than the one drawn in the throat but not so long as a loop drawn over the top of the nib; such a loop will hereinafter'bedesignated as a short pile loop. By radial control of the sinker prior to taking yarn at the feeding point, both loops may be caused to be drawn in front of and beneath the nib as in the throat, one may be drawn in the throat and the other over the top of the nib, or one may be drawn in the throat and the other in the notch. These three positions are selectively determined by the movable sinker projectine, cams and the selecting means hereinafter' described. The notch is behind-the nib and terminates at a depth approximating 'the level of the bottom of the throat. The short pile loops may be drawn very little longer than the plain loops drawn in the throat. Of course, this is varied by degree to which a sinker is pushed inwardly, or by varying sinker dimensions.

Each of the sinkers extends outwardly of the machine to terminate in a stemportion 4| and a butt 42.

this particular instance, will pivot on the upper edge of a jack 43, one of which is provided for each sinker. The butt 42 performs the normal function of pulling the sinkers outwardly by means of certain sinker cams to be described, and L One of the jacks 43 is shown in detail in Fig. 8.

That jack has a plurality of saw-tooth butts 45 and one top butt 46, these butts all being engageable by selecting plungers or cams constructed in a manner to impart selective movements to the jack and incidentally to the sinker. butts are removable such as by breaking. The upper end of the said jack is formed in such shape as to engage the rectangular section of the ring 21 each jack being held within a slot at the edge of the ring and within the same slot as the sinker at the top part of the ring, Fig. 3. The lower part of the ring 21 is anged at 41 and is grooved at 48, the groove and flange accommodating a plurality of springs 49 which also engage within a slot 50 at the lower end of each jack. These springs serve to retain the lower ends of jacks inwardly against the bottoms of slots while the parts 5l at the upper ends of each jack hold the top of the jack inwardly. In assembling, the

jack is inserted within a slot and is pushed downwardly within that slot until the top, hooked part has engaged the front sidof the ring and the slot 50 likewise engages the springs 49. When pushed downwardly to fullest extent, Fig. 3, each jack will be securely held inposition and These y The stern is so constructed that the sinker will pivot about its outermost end and in since the Ljack, and the stem of a. sinker are approximately the same thickness and are a working t in the grooves, the top of a jack will makea satisfactory pivot point for the outer end of the sinker. As the jack is raised upwardly, it` will raise the outer end of the sinker so that a selection may thus be imparted.4 This will be described in greater detail in a later paragraph. Now referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 9, 15 and 16, the cams for. controlling sinkers will be described in detail. The post -IIJ has a projection 52 to which attaches an angular bracket or holder 53. Tit-is angular bracket 53 supports a plate 54 which extends inwardly andoverhangs the sinker ring and the stems and butts on the outer ends of sinkers. In the original machine, sinker cams were carried by or attached to this plate in most instances. In the machine herein described this plate serves to support another detachable plate which is adjustable with respect to plate 54, but which actually carries most of the sinker cams. This second plate is .illustrated at 55, Figs. 2 and. 15. The only cams which are most deflnztely associated with the plate 54 are thecasting-oit cams 56 and the sinker butt* leveling or lowering cam 51. These cams are both permanently attached to a link 58 which is' pivotable at 53 and 69 on two swinging arms 6I and 62 which are also capable of pivoting freely at their other ends on the pivots 63 and 64. These pivots 63 and 64 are threaded into a bar 65 which is adjustably fixed adjacent-the outermost edge of plate 54. This constitutes a parallelogram system whereby the cams 56 and v51 may swing outwardly. The spring 66 normally tends to swing this parallelogram system and the cams 56 and 51 to outermost position. This outer position, that is, the position in which the cam 56 normally functions and which determines the projection of sinkers for casting olf, is controlled by the abutment 61, spring 68, Fig.v2a, adjustable by :means of the adjusting nut 69 and lock nut 10.

The spring 68 allows the entire assembly including cams 56, 51, link 58, and arms 6I, 62,`

to be moved outwardly in the event of some unusual circumstances whereby sinkers do not follow the intended pathway. The spring 68 is strong enough to maintain the cams in position for normal operation` but will compress upon unusual resistance or abnormal conditions.

In Fig. 2 parts of three dilerent sinker cam and selecting assemblies have been illustrated. An attempt has been made by breaking away portions of the mechanism, to illustrate all the essential features at one of the three stations at least. The plate 55 is illustrated at the lowermost station in Fig. 2 and part of the plate is shown in Fig. l5, the cams supported thereby being shown at Figs. 2, 9, 15 and 16.A These cams include the elongated cam 1l, sinker retracting cam 12, knife edge cam 13 and the cam '14 which serves as a guard cam behind cam 12. These cams are fixed to the plate 55, and, once the machine is assembled, are relatively stationary. Two other cams are associated with this plate 55, namely, the movable sinker projecting cams 15 and 16. These cams are slidable within the slot Acut in the upper side of the cam 14 closed by plate 55. These cams are freely slidable within that slot. The purpose of these cams is that of moving sinkers inwardly to a position in which loops may be drawn forward of the nib, one loop vin the throat and the other over the nib, or one in the throat and lthe other in the'notch The illustrated in F18. 2.

lower cam 16 is at such an elevation that `it engages the butts 42 on sinkers whetherany selection is imparted to them or not. The upper cam is at a height to miss these butts 42 unless a selecting movement is imparted to the sinkers.

As shown in Figs. 2, 15 and 21, two sectors 11 and 18 are attached to the outer edge of the plate 55, being centered at 1 9 and slightly adjustable about that center by means of slot 80 upwardly within one of the `slots 85 cut Iin the outer edge of the sector.

the outer ends of these sinkers will remain elevated until they have been pushed inwardly to whatever position they are to be projected, de-r pending upon the setting of cams 15 and 16. Sinkers are frictioned within these slots and this knife-edge cam is merely an additional safety feature making the selection positive of determining length of pile loops or of plain knitting.

The jacks raise the outer ends of sinkers, but do Y.

not tend to keep them raised after they have passed the selecting plungers which function upon the butts 45 on said jacks. The spacing between cams 14, 15 and 18 and cam 12 is such that the knife-edge is not disengageable from the notch 44 once they have become engaged and until the sinker butts have passed beyond the extent of that knife-edge at which time sinkers will have been projected inwardly to whatever position they are to occupy as the stitch is drawn.

The lever 85, also pivoted at 19 has a. similar slot engageable with pin 81 projecting downwardly from the cam 16. Likewise, this lever 86 has a.

' projecting hand lever 88 which engages similar slots in the lower sector 18 for the same purpose. By shifting the levers 84 or 88 to the appropriate slots, the cams 15 and 16 may be set and retained in any one of their three operative positions. Y l

These cams and attached plate v55 constitute a unit and while they serve some general knitting purpose, are more or less associated with the knitting of the patterned pile fabric. -These cams are bodily adjustable as a unit since the plate 55 is adius'tably attached to the plate 54. The screws 89 and 90, Fig. 2, passing through slots in plate 54 and threaded into the plate 55 provide this adjustment.

Now referring to Fig.` 22, the elongated cam 1| generally serves to bear upon the topmost part of the sinker stems 4| and hold them downwardly. At certain points the underside of these cams are cut away as at 9| and allow the sinker stems to move upwardly as they are selected. The pathway of 'the stems is illustrated at 9 2 in this Fig.x 22. Each cam 1| is recessed at 93 and has a projection at the opposite end at 94. This construction allows an .overlap of the cams as The cam 14, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 16, is a sort of guard cam and prevents firing of sinkers as they are withdrawn by cam 12. 'I'his cam 14 is of such 'a depth as to engage all sinker butts, whether selected or not and further, keeps these butts in engagement with the knife edge 4cam 13 as will be described.

The cam 12 withdrawssinkers as illustrated in`Figs. 2, 9, 15 and 16. The withdrawing of sinkers at this point brings them backto a position wherein, 'if not acted upon by either of would result,.except for ornamentation as controlled by the needle selection suchas tuck work.

float work, etc.

The knife-edge cam 13 is normally positioned as lllustratedin Fig. 1l, for example, above the Referring to Figs. 1,2, 3 and 22, the selective mechanism functioning upon jacks 49 will be described. A bracket 95, Fig. 2, is attached to the upstanding projection 52. This bracket 95 has two upstanding parts 96 and 91 between which are inserted in slots the inclined spacers 98 between which the several selecting cams or plungers 99 may slide. Each of these plungers 99 is bevelled at its inner end to engage the saw-tooth butts 445. These plungers are movable to and from butt engaging positions as will be more fully described. At the lower side of bracket 95,

a support |00 projects rearwardly and has attached thereto the upstanding posts" |0| at one side of the set of plungers, and |02 at the other side. The post |0| is slotted to guide the outer ends of these plungers. The post |02 lits within recesses in that side of each plunger which limit the inward and outward movement of the plungers. A U-shaped retaining element |03 overhangs the plungers and projects downward at i the opposite side from post |0| so that they are held within the shallow slots in that post. This retaining element |03 is adjustably maintained a notch |05 in its outer end by means of which it may be engaged by a hook when it is desired to pull that plunger out when setting up a Pattern.

The levelling cam |06, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, extends from an angular bracket |01 which is adjustably attached'by means of suitable screws or other connections to the post 91. This bracket and the cam are adjustable vertically and the cam itself engages the top'edge of the jacks 43 -t'o level them prior to their contactingsuch of plungers 99 as may be in a position to engage butts 45 for purposes of selection.

A leaf spring |00 is xed between a plate |09 and the post |02 and has a detent ||0 soldered o r otherwise xed to its freeend. This detent engages within one of two notches cut in the side of each of the plungers 99. The spring is cams 15 or' 16, loops will be drawn forward of.' the nibs. .That is, plain loops or plain knitting under sufficient tension to force the detent into these notches, and when in the outer notch, will retain a plunger in butt engaging position, but when in the other notch, will hold it in an-inactive position. The tension in the spring is such that it Will snap outwardly toallow movement of Aa plunger whenever that plunger is pushedin or pulled out. The spring itself might be shaped so as to present a. ridge or other projection for engagement within the notches. Y

The plate |09 is\adjustably attached to the lower outwardly projecting support |00 by means of a clamping screw ||2 which passes through an I elongated slot I3, these elements being mainto the top of the sinker throat, that is, as far betained in alignment by the dowel pins Hd and H5. The plate |09, spring and detent, as well as post |02 may be adjusted-inwardlyor outwardly as a unit upon loosening screw ||2 and effecting an adjustment by means ofthe adjusting screw H6. Screw l|||i is retained by means of a lock nui'l After adjustment, thescrew l|2 is tightened to hold all elements in position. The method of adjustment is to start at a position too far out, and then to turn the screw IIS* slowly inwardly until the plungers engage the Asaw-tooth butts 45 to a correct depth.

A latch ||0 is pivoted at ||9 and may be swung from the dot-and-dash line position. Fig. 3, to the full line position at which it is stopped by means of pin |20. In that position the d'etent l0 will be positively held in the notches thus assuring that a plunger or plungers 99" which might be in outer or inactive position-.could notbe accidentally pushed in thereby changing pattern unintentionally. f Such might occur if some sort of safety mechanism were not provided. In this particular example twenty plungers and thus twenty different steps of selection have been probeen provided at the-lowermost extent of that I jack, This butt might be used under certain circumstances where a separate plunger was pro- A vided, `possibly under automatic control, for controlling each of the jacksand necessarily their sinkers-to change frompattern work to an allover pattern with pile knitted at each loop.

Now referring to Figs. 1, 4 and 5, the yarn feeding finger or guide and'adjacent parts are -supported on a short stud |2| which is threaded into the plate 54. An arm |22 terminating in a boss |23 is adjustably xedat the upper e'nd of the stud. A spindle |23 extends through a hole in the boss |23 and carries at the inner end adjacent-the needle circle a yarn guide or finger |25.

This finger |25 terminates at its lower end. in

one yarn guiding eyelet |26for the top or loop yarn and another eyelet at the lower horizontal part |21 for the body yarn. The lower edge of this iinger or lever |25 is sharp as illustrated at |28 and serves to open needle latches, if necessary. This nger |25 is attached to a flattened portion on a hub y|29 which is in turn fixed to low the nlb, as possible. The eyelet |23 feeds 'fili sition by the locking screw |44 may be adjusted v l I .lli

the inner end of spindle |24. This same attachi ing means also secures a bent bracket |30 in which there are two eyelets |3| and |32 through which th'e yarns are threaded.

Between the hub |29 and the boss |23 .are two spacing washers |33, a separating spring |34 and two detents or drop wires |35 and |35. Normally the yarns are threaded so that each yarn holds v its drop wire in elevated positionand away from a contact piece. Whenthe yarn breaks or bethe other yarn above the nibs and as'highas is practicable so that both yarns have a maximum spacing. This gets the nibs in between the yarns without danger of misplacement. The finger also has an inwardly projecting tongue |38 which keeps the top yarn away from the 4hooks of thev needles before it passes through the' eyelet |26. The purpose of this is to prevent the hooks of needles catching in any frayed parts of theyarn such as sometimes happens. Theyarn does not approach the hooks of the needles until it has passed through the eyelet at which time itis below the hooks and so close to the shanks vthat the entire yarn is taken within the hooks.

It is the purp'ose of this nger to feed the two yarns spaced properly in a, vertical direction but also as close to the needle circlev as possible vso through boss |23 has attached thereto a stop arm I 33. This arm is clamped to the spindle by means of the clamping screw |40. Said yarn lalso has a lower flattenedv side |4| which bears against a leaf spring |42 (better shown in Fig. 4) which tends to maintain the spindle and attached parts including the finger |25 downwardly in feeding position, or, if swung up to withdraw the yarns from the needles, will retain the finger in that position. An adjustable stop screw |43 set inno-- in such a manner as to limit the downward movement of the finger so that the lower yarn will feed properly as explainedabove.

In machines of the type described thesinkers are moved vertically at the stitch drawing poin* and cooperate,k as explained in Patent No.

2,090,500 so that stitch measuring and drawing is divided between the two instrumentalities. In the instant machine sinkers are raised and lowered prior to the approach of the stitch point for 'the purpose of projectingy sinker nibs between thetwo feeding yarns with 'greater accuracy. This is possible by employing the saine jacks or raise sinkersat the stitch point and `separately along in pathway |45. Th'e cam 35 is cut away as shown at |43 to allow these jack butts to be raised by the first part |41 of the cam 34. The downwardly inclined portion. |48 of the cam 35 then moves these jacks back to substantially their lowermost elevation, which elevation corresponds to that normally existing just prior to ap;

proach of the stitch drawing ring. Referring to Fig. 4, the effect of vthese cam sections |41and |48 and .the movement of the sinker nibs may be seen. At this point it is also evident why the lower yarn is fed in advance of the -upper yarn.- The nger |25is'so out away beneath' the feeding eye |26 as to allow the sinker nibs to be projected upwardly and inwardly between the n yarns with out interference.

After nibs have been projected between thev yarns, in the event a pile loop is to be drawn, or if not, in the event ordinary stitches are to-be drawn forward of the nib, the second part |49 of cam 34 raises the jacks 32 and consequently the sinkers to' participate 'in the measuring and drawing of stitches.; "At this same time the needles are moving in pathway |50 down the stitch cam I2 and being guided betweenthat cam and cam I3. Cam 36 serves to prevent rlng oi.' the sinkers upwardly-and to cause them to move along at a common level A'after stitches have been drawn. The leading edge I5| returns these sinkers to their lower pathway prior to approach of the next feeding station, The stitch drawing is not particularly dierent in this case from that 4which has been described in previous cases with respect to this type of machine, but the preliminary raising to project sinker nibs between the yarns in the event pile loops are drawn is new in this particular case and. is a desirable feature of the present invention. While the machine herein described is particularly adapted for this preliminary raising movement of sinkers incidental to drawing pile loops, the said movement has similar advantages in other types of machines such asthose machines in which stitch drawing is done entirely by needle control. It

' is not intended to limit the invention to any particular knitting machine, but thesame is advantageous and intended to be used in al1 machines wherein a sinker nib is to be projected in between two or more yarns and where the raising movement would facilitate the engagement thereof as described.

lReferring to Fig. '1, a modiiied form of sinker is illustrated. This sinker is designated generally by numeral 26' and has a stem 4|', butt 42' and notch 44 all as in the form of' sinker rst referred to. The nib of this sinker |52 is differen1l in that the top of the nib is notched at |53 so that long pile loops may be drawn in this notch rather than on the slanting upper surface as in the case of the nibs 38. A notch 4|I' is similar to the notch and is employed when it is desired to draw short pile loops.

Operation Now referring to Figs. 9-22, I will describe briefly the manner in which the machine functions to knit the several types of stitches, and briefly, how patterns are to be determined. In

' Fig. 9 the pathway of sinker butts 42 is shown at |54 in which all sinkers approach the cams 1|, 'I2 and 14. The sinkers then are withdrawn by cam 12, the knife edge cam 13 either maintaining them in non-selected position or if they are selected, maintaining them elevated. The cams 15 and 16 depending upon their position, will determine how far in a selected or a non-selected sinker is to be projected. In this Fig. 9 some of the sinkers are shown as passing along in a pathway |55, o'r are not being aifected by either of the cams 15 or 16. The cam 56 will push all these sinkers in for purposes of casting ofi'. The other pathway shown at |56 is the result of sinker butts contacting either one or the other of cams 15 or 16 which is moved inwardly to its extreme position. In that position sinkers are pushed in so thatthe pile loops are drawn in the notch behind the nib. The sinkers which are pushed in to this extent are practically in the casting off position when they strike cam 56, however, that cam may impart a slight additional casting off movement if the cams 15 `or 16 were not set as deeply as the: cam 56. It must be understoodthat the adjustment of cams 15 and 16 is capable of being varied by setting the sector 11, Fig. 15, whereuponlonger or shorter loops may be drawn. 'I'he basic loop will be regmoved downwardly by cam 51, Fig. 4, shortlyI ulated by setting the stitch cams so as to regulate the amount of draw imparted to the needles. The comparative size of the pile loop with respect to the basic loop drawn in the throat of the sinker may be varied by setting these cams 15 and 16. The long loop will be varied by drawing over higher or lower parts of the inclined nib 38, while the depth to which the sinker is pushed in will control the relative length of the short loop with respect to the basic loop.v The construction and adjustment provided is such that short loops may be drawn which are slightly longer than the basic loops, and the longest of the long loops is determined by the height of the nib 38` above the throat of the sinker.

Referring to Fig. l5, all sinkers are shown as being guided through a pathway to draw short pile loops.

while others are moving. in such a pathway as would cause them to draw long pile loops.

Now referring to Fig. 10 which is -a section taken on line'A-B, Fig. 9, the sinker is,A shown y having its butt orl outer end selected and raised by one of the jacks 43 so that the notch has engaged the knife-edge cam. The sinker buttl is about to engage one or both of the cams 15v`or1 16, but since those cams are, in this view, shown completely retracted, the sinker butt will move in a pathway corresponding to |55, Fig. 9. In

`other words, the selection does not make any dierence unless one of the cams 15 or 16 is in Aintermediate or fully projected position. Such if the sinker is not selected. The entire butt 42 lpasses below the knife-edge cam and will be held downwardly against accidentairaising.

vHere it would not make any diierence if the cam 15 were in a different position.; the butt would not contact that cam. The position of the lower cam 16 would make a diierence; if in intermediate position, the sinker would have a long pile loop drawn over the nib, but if in fully projected position, would have a short pile loop drawn in the notch.

In Figs. 12 and 13 the section is taken at line C-D, Fig. 9, and cam 16 is shown in that intermediate position, Fig. 12, but in fully projecte position, Fig. 13. l

In Fig. 14, the section is taken at line E-F at which point the casting oi cam 56 is eifecting "its intended function. If the butts 42 are not. at

their lowest position at this time, they would be after passing the point of cam 56.

Fig. 17 is taken at line`G--H, Fig. 15, and

shows a sinker having been selected by its jack and being pushed inwardly to draw a short pile loop under the iniluence of cam 15. If the sinker had not been selected, it would have been governed by cam 16 and would have drawn along pile loop, this condition being illustrated at Fig. 18.

In Fig. 19 the section is taken at I-J and shows parts in that position where a sinker is selected, but is to be controlled to draw a long loop by the upper cam 15 which is in intermediate position. 4Here if the sinker had not been selected it would have drawn a plain loop in front of the nib since cam 16 is fully retracted.

In Fig. 16 some of the sinkers are moved in a pathway to draw short pile'loops,v

In 20 `the cam l5 is inposition for controlling sinkers which have been selected to draw short pile loops, While cam 16 indicated by dot and dash lines, would have allowed that sinker to pass along in pathway |55 thereby drawing a plain loop. The examples illustrated and just described are merely some of the combinations' which-may be derived from the manipulation of these cams l5 and 16 along with selection by the plungers 69 functioning upon jacks I3; No1 attempt is made to enumerate all the possibilities but merely to show representative examples from which the principle of operation and the invenwhat is commonly considered the back of a plain knitted fabric, and in this instance, the. yarn |66 from which thepile loops are drawn is at that side of the fabric and is plating over the yarn |56 when considered from the point of view illustrated in. these Figs. 23 and 24. Incidentally when sinkers are so constructedas'to have pile loops drawn over them from the yarn |60, they reverse plate the two yarns so that throughout the areas where pile loops are drawn, the two yarns will be reversed as to their position. The wales |6I, |62 and |63 are thus shown reverse plated, these wales-being drawn by needles which have vdrawn pile loops |64 in sinker wales |65 and duce open work. According to the selection of sinkers long open stitches may be interspersed as desired with stitches of normal length. This would .give simple pattern 'effects of open or eyeiet work in plain cloth.

Another variation made is that of drawing'alternate courses of long loops entirely 'and the intermediate courses of short loops. It would give a sort of open fabric eect-which would be to some extent run resistant due" to the tightness of the courses knitted of extremely small loops. The pile fabric is run proof to a considerable extent anyway.

Tuck or float stitches may be knitted at any of these feeds by proper selection of needles; the tuck or oat work would normally be employed to set oi certain figured areas to contrast with plain work, open work, or loop or pile fabric. About the only limitation on combinations of Athese stitches is that at any feed where a single pile loops |66 in Wale |61. More specifically, the sinkers forming these sinker wales |65 and |61 have 'been controlled to have long pile loops drawn over their nibs. -These long pile loops come out from under the sinker loops of the yarn |59 drawn between wales: |6l, |62 and |63.

In Fig. 24' long pile loops are drawn in wales |68 and I6? while short pile loops are shown insinker Wales |76 and lll. Thesinker wales |16 and are formed while the sinkers correso as to have the yarn |60 drawn in the notches behind the nibs. Since the .entire area of fabric shown in Fig. 24 has pile loops associated thereplating, but the same comes about as a result yarn is fed for the lproducing of open work, pile taking a plurality of pile loops as well as a plurality of hase or bodyloops. When casting olf, each loop cast oif will constitute a tuck stitch with two pile loops projecting therefrom. This means that when the tuck i s knitted. quite close, the fabric will have more densepile than otherwise. Still another possibility is that of knitting Y both a base and pile yarn at alternate feeds and a pile yarn only at'intermediate feeds. The intermediate feeds would be set so that the needle would take yarn' but would not cast of! thereafter. This would result in a single base yarn being knitted at each completestitch, but that sin- .gle base yarn would be characterized by two pile loops. These last examples are disclosures of corresponding to heavy velvet is to be made.

Now referring to Figs. 23, 24 and 25, I will defabric and methods ofknitting it whereby fabric scribe rather briefly vthe fabric which is to be i knitted. The waleslil and |56 are needle wales which have been knitted of two yarns, one being shown shaded and the other unshaded for purposes of identification. These yarns may be of any suitable material, for instance, the yarn |59 which I will term the base yarn may, for example, be cotton or mercerized, while the other yarn |60 maybe silk, artificial laments, or any other satisfactory material; this yarn` |60 is the yarn from which pile loops are drawn. The pile loops are formed at the back of the fabric, that is,

of sinker movement and is desirable since the same yarn |66 will appear` at the same side of the fabric as ythe pile loops. This means that if the yarn |66 is of silk or any other particular material as contrasted with the yarn |59 the face of the fabric which is to beused. that is, theA side upon which the pile loops appear, will present a uniform appearance so far as the character of f yarn is concerned. -When viewed from the oppo- .site side to that illustrated in Figs. 23 and 24, the areas in which pile loops are drawn will appear as reverse plated. For example, those areas, if made of silk which has a greater luster than the other yarn, will present an appearance wherein the gures will show in that side of the fabric as a watered or moir effect.

The pile loops may be brushed up by any satisfactory means, or may be used in exactly the form in which they are knitted. Again they may be .cut as in velvet andmay be brushed to stand out from the fabric.

In Fig. 25 a. section is taken through the fabric A vof Fig. 24 wherein the yarns |59 and |60 are shown in their reverse plated relationship, long pile loops |69 contrasting'in length with the Now referring to Figs. 26 Aand 27,two forms of ornamentation are shown. Incertain instances the figurev may be characterized bythe' lack of pile loops while in another form the pile loops may constitute the gureitself. In Fig. 26 the diamond'D is the result of there being pile loops throughout the remaining portionof the fabric except Where the diamond or diamonds wouldl appear. In Fig. 27 the opposite is true. -the diamond D is formed from the pile loops themselves and stands out from the fabric.

Other forms of ornamentation and other schemes will suggest themselves and it is not the' purpose of this case to disclose all manners or all uses to 'which this fabric may be put. Neither is it my purpose to disclosethe various treatments to which the pile loops may be subjected.

Certain variations in colored yarns is contentI in the art and is not limited otherwise than`by the limitations expressed in the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. In a multi-feed knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and 'sinkers said sinkers being so constructed -as to have plain knitted stitches or pile loops of either of two 'different lengths drawn thereover, selecting means operable upon said sinkers for projecting them to different positions at anydesired coursevof knitting, thev construction and operation being .such that either plain stitches, short pile loops or long pile loops may be drawn selectively at any feed and at any course.

2. In a multi-feed knitting'machine, needles I and sinkers, said sinkers being adapted to have one yarn of each stitch drawn below a-nib and.

the other drawn over a nib, selecting means operable on said sinkers at each feed of said machine to project them inwardly to positions so that the yarn drawn over the nib will be drawn at different positions thereover.

3, In a multi-feed knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers, said sinkers being constructed so that two knitting yarns simultaneously Vfed may be drawn forward of a nib, one yarn beneath i the nib and the other -above it, or one yarn beneath the nib and the other behind it and at a lower elevation than that drawn over the nib, and selecting means for determining to which of these three positions any sinkershall be projected prior to the drawing of stitches at any feeding station about said machine.

4. In a multi-feed knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers, said sinkers being constructed to have both of two feeding yarns drawn forwardly of a nib, one yarn below a nib and the other above said nib, or one yarn below said nib and the other behind said nib and at alower elevation than that drawn above the nib, sinker projecting ca ms movable to different positions for projecting sinkers to any one of said three positions, and selecting means for moving sinkers to contact predetermined ones of said projecting cams.

5. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including vertically movable needles and transversely movable sinkers having nibs, means for feeding yarns, one above and one below nibs on said sinkers, and means for raising sinkers prior to engagement of the yarn so that sinker nibs will more effectively engage between the said yarns. f

6. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including sinkers having nibs, means for feeding two yarns, one vertically spaced with respect to the other, means for projecting sinkers inwardly so that their nibs will separate the spaced yarns and in combination means for mov'- ing sinkers upwardly so that the nibs may more effectively engage between the two yarns.

'7. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including sinkers having nibs, yarn feedy ing means for feeding a plurality of yarns, one

spaced vertically with respect to the other, means for projecting sinkers in so that their nibs will engage between and separate the yarns, selecting means for determining this inward projection of sinkers and other means for raising Vsinkers whereby nibs of those sinkers selected and 'pushed inwardly may more effectively engage between the said yarn.

8. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumentalities including vertically movable needles and horizontally movable sinkers, yarn feeding means 'for feeding a plurality of yarns, one of which is vertically spaced with respect to the others. n eans for projecting .sinkers inwardly so that nibs onsaid sinkers may engage between the two yarns to draw o ne yarn beneath the nib and the other over said nib, jack means for raising said sinkers prior to their being moved inwardly so as to engage the yarns more effectively.

9. In a knitting machine, knitting instrumenvtalities including needles and sinkers, said sinkers being radially movable, a plurality of sinker sir-kers, said sinkers having butts thereon by rie-ans of which they are to be projected inwardly, a plurality of sinker projecting cams movable to different positions and means for maintaining them in said positions, said projecting lcams being engageable with said butts, and selecting means for moving said sinkers so that their butts will engage different ones of said sinkerprojjcting cams thereby to determine different degrees of movement for any sinker.

11. In a knitting machine, needles and sinkers, cams for imparting radial movement to said sinkers, a butt on each sinker and a jack indvidual to each sinker functioning at a position adjacent said butt for raising the butt to different selective positions, a sinker projecting cam engageable with a butt when it has been selectively raised, and pattern means functioning upcn said jacks selectively to raise them and the butts on sinkers adjacent thereto whereby said projecting cam may be caused to engage the bult and project said sinker inwardly.

l2. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers having nibs, said sinkers being radially projectable whereby stitches may be drawn forward of or over said nibs, a butt on each sinker 'and a sinker raising jack adjacent the butt on knitting instrumentalities including needles and sinkers having nibs, said sinkers being radially ;.scjcctable whereby stitches may be drawn forward of or over said nibs, a butt on each sinker fw: moving it to and from positions in which the yarn may be drawn either forward 'of or over the nib, a notch in said butt, cams for engaging said butt and another cam for engaging said notch whereby the sinker butt. may be maintained at different elevations.

14. In a knitting machine the combination ing nibs, said sinkers eachhaving a butt, a notch in said butt, cams for moving said sinker radially of the machine by engagementwith said butt, means for lifting the butt and adjacent portions of the sinker, a knife-edge cam engageable aboveV the butt or within the notch whereby thesinkof knitting instrumentalities including sinkers havpile loops of dilerent lengthsv including cam means'selectively engageable withA parts of sinkers for imparting to-them movements of different Y extent, and pattern means operable upon sinkers er will be retained in either one of two selected positions. i

15. Selecting means for sinkers in knitting machines including jacks having a plurality of removable butts, selecting means including a plurality of manually set butt engaging instruments, movable sinker projecting cams at different elevations and engageable with `parts of .said sinkers, the construction being such that diierent cams are engaged dependingl upon selections imparted by said first mentioned selecting ihstrumentalities.

to determine their selective engagement with said cam means.

22. A, method of knitting in knitting machines having vneedles adapted to draw stitches over horizontally movable sinkers, the construction being such that yarns are fed, one-below and one above nibs on sinkers, said method including the step of preliminarily raising the sinkers as they 16. Sinker selecting means for knitting machines including a plurality of movable sinker projecting cams, levers for moving said cams to different positions with respect to 'said sinkersV to be controlled, a sector having notches within.`

which said levers may engage for retaining said projecting cams in any one of a plurality of positions.

17. Selecting means for knitting instrumen; .talities of knitting machines having in combination a support, a plurality of selecting plungers slidable within said support, each of said plungers having two notches, these notches aligning vertically throughout the group of instruments, a spring pressed detent engageable with said notches, the construction being such that a plunger may be moved toi and from active position as the detent is snapped from one notch to another.

'18. A sinker for independent needle knitting machines having in combination a throat, a nib and a vertically disposed butt, said butt having a horizontally disposed notch facing toward the nibland adapted to engage a cam for maintaining the butt at a desired elevation.

19. In a knitting machine, instrumentalities including needles and sinkers, said sinkers being adapted to have stitches drawn over their nibs or in a notch behind their nibs, the construction being such thatrelatively long stitches may' beI drawn over the nibs but that relatively short stitches compared to ordinary knitted loops drawn forwardly of the nibs, may -be drawn in said notches behind said nibs.

20. In a knitting machine the combination of knitting instrumentalities including needles and fromthe nib and throat and having a notch sinkers, said sinkers having nibs and being so f constructed as to have loopsdrawn forwardly of the nibs, over the nibs, or in a notch behind the nibs, the construction being such that relatively long loops may be drawn over the nibs, but so that stitches drawnin the notches behind .the

nibs may be of a length much shorter than those drawn overv the nibs and slightly longer than stitches drawn forwardly of the nibs.

214. A knitting machine having in combination means for knitting fabrics having plain and pile loop areas, including sinkers constructed to have plain loops and pile loops oi different length drawn thereover, selecting means for selectively positioning said sinkers to draw plain loops or 24. In a knitting machine the combination of instrumentalities having a plurality of-removable selecting butts, manually controlled selecting instruments supported for engagement with said butts movable to and from positions for selectively engaging predetermined ones of the Ibutts, each instrument having a plurality of notches, a spring pressed detent for engagement with said notches, corresponding notches being in alignment and so placed that in one position of each instrument a notch will be engaged' by said detent for holding that instrument in butt engaging position, the other notch being so positioned that'said detent will engage therein and hold the instrument in an inactive position.

25. A sinker for independent needle knitting machines of the type described constructed and arranged to operate transversely of ya series of needles, normal movement of said sinker being substantially in -a horizontal direction, a horizontally disposed throat, a nib above said throat .and a. vertically disposed butt horizontally spaced therein at the side of said butt which is towards the nib, said notch being adapted to engage a cam and to retain the butt and sinker at a desired elevation.

26A method of knitting pile fabric including impartingcooperating movements to needles andv sinkers, said sinker movements being in a direction transverse to the direction of needle movements, and including the steps of feeding two yarns, one above and one below nibs on sinkers, and further, preliminarily moving sinkers in a direction parallel to the direction of needle movement so that sinker nibs may more effectively be positioned between feeding yarns. r '27. A sinker for circular. independent needle knitting machines having in combination a horizontally disposed throat, a nib above said throat and a relatively narrow notch dened by the back edge of the sinker nib and a closely adjacent shoulder between which the yarn is rather closely coniined as it is drawn, said notch being of a depth substantially level with the lower edge of the sinker throat.

WILLIAM L. SMITH, JR. 

